#BookReview #BlogTour : As Luck Would Have It by Zoe May #Chicklit @rararesources @zoe_writes

6 Comments August 5, 2020 Books Teacup and Reviews

Hello Readers! Today I’m sharing review of As Luck Would Have It by Zoe May as part of blog tour, organized by Rachel’s Random Resources. Many thanks to Rachel for tour invite and author for providing review copy.

As Luck Would Have It by Zoe May
Publication Date : 4th July 2019
Publisher : HQ Digital, HarperCollins
Genre : Romantic Comedy
Pages : 241

Natalie Jackson might keep up appearances on Instagram, but in reality her fiancé has just jilted her after the birth of their baby and she’s moved back in with her mum. Life isn’t exactly going to plan!

So when she enters the village raffle for the holiday of a lifetime, she thinks she has no chance of winning. But her name is pulled out – and, as luck would have it, so is a ticket bought by her childhood nemesis: Will Brimble.

Surely a romantic holiday for two is the worst idea ever…right?

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Kobo | Apple books | Google books

Author Bio:

Zoe May is an author of romantic comedies. Zoe has dreamt of being a novelist since she was a teenager. She worked in journalism and copywriting in London before writing her debut novel, Perfect Match. Having experienced the London dating scene first hand, Zoe could not resist writing a novel about dating, since it seems to supply endless amounts of weird and wonderful material!

Perfect Match was one of Apple’s top-selling books of 2018. It was also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Joan Hessayon Award, with judges describing it as ‘a laugh out loud look at love and self-discovery – fresh and very funny’.

As well as writing, Zoe enjoys walking her dog, painting and, of course, reading! She adores animals and if she’s not taking a photo of a vegan meal, she’s probably tweeting about the dairy industry. She is half Greek and half Irish and can make a mean baklava. Zoe has a thing for horror films, India, swimming, hip hop and Radiohead. She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of handbags having spent several years working in fashion copywriting and could probably win Mastermind if this was her specialist subject!

Zoe loves to hear from readers, you can contact her on Twitter and Instagram at: @zoe_writes. Zoe’s Facebook page is: http://www.facebook.com/zoemayauthor/

She posts updates and blogs on her website, http://www.zoemayauthor.co.uk

Social Media Links : Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

hope you enjoyed this review. Let me know what do you think about the book, if you have read this already or any books by the same author. Which is your favourite book set in Morocco?

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#BookReview : Cynthia Smart’s Midwife Crisis by Liz Davies #Chicklit @rararesources @lizdaviesauthor

5 Comments July 31, 2020 Books Teacup and Reviews

Hello Readers! I’m excited to share my review of Cynthia Smart’s Midwife Crisis by Liz Daviesas part of blog tour, organized by Rachel’s Random Resources. Many thanks to Rachel for tour invite and author for providing review copy.

Cynthia Smart’s Midwife Crisis by Liz Davies
Publication Date : 28th July 2020
Genre : Chicklit
Pages : 330

Midlife crisis? What midlife crisis?

At forty-four, Cynthia Smart is exactly where she wants to be. Almost.

In a couple of years, she’ll be the CEO of the company she’s spent her most of her adult life working in. For now, though, she’s still busy shimmying up the greasy pole of corporate business. She’s single, carefree, and independent, and nothing can stop her getting what she wants and deserves.

Until she discovers she’s pregnant.

Determined to have her cake and eat it, she’s convinced that having a baby will make little difference to her life, and that she will be one of those women who can hold down an incredibly demanding job and also be a perfect mother.

But as her pregnancy progresses and her life slowly falls apart, she has the sneaking suspicion that Max Oakland, the new guy on the block, is out to steal her dream job. That she’s terribly attracted to him doesn’t help, nor does the fact that he’s devilishly handsome, appears to be a really nice fella, and is good in a crisis.

When she gradually comes to realise that something has got to give, what she doesn’t want it to be is her heart.

Perfect for fans of Mandy Baggott, Heidi Swain, and Holly Martin.

Purchase Link – http://mybook.to/CynthiaSmart

About Author:

Liz Davies writes feel-good, light-hearted stories with a hefty dose of romance, a smattering of humour, and a great deal of love.

She’s married to her best friend, has one grown-up daughter, and when she isn’t scribbling away in the notepad she carries with her everywhere (just in case inspiration strikes), you’ll find her searching for that perfect pair of shoes. She loves to cook but isn’t very good at it, and loves to eat – she’s much better at that! Liz also enjoys walking (preferably on the flat), cycling (also on the flat), and lots of sitting around in the garden on warm, sunny days.

She currently lives with her family in Wales, but would ideally love to buy a camper van and travel the world in it.

Website: https://lizdaviesauthor.wixsite.com/home

Social Media Links:

Twitter https://twitter.com/lizdaviesauthor

Facebook: fb.me/LizDaviesAuthor1

I hope you enjoyed this review. Let me know what do you think about the book, if you have read this already or any books by the same author. Have you read a book that has ambitious career woman protagonist and which is your favourite?

Happy Reading!

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#BookReview : Flying Solo by Zoe May #FlyingSolo #romcom @rararesources @zoe_writes

22 Comments July 10, 2020 Books Teacup and Reviews

Hello Readers! I’m excited to share my review of Flying Solo by Zoe May as part of blog tour, organized by Rachel’s Random Resources. Many thanks to Rachel for tour invite and author for providing review copy.

Flying Solo by Zoe May
Publication Date : 6th July 2020
Genre : Romantic Comedy
Pages : 250

Rachel Watson has it all worked out. By 30, she’s ticked off most of the goals on her Life List. She’s a homeowner, a partner at her law firm, she has a gorgeous boyfriend, lots of hobbies and loads of good friends. The only thing that’s missing is a ring on her finger.

According to her Life List, Rachel should be getting hitched around now, so when her boyfriend, Paul, plans a romantic date, Rachel’s pretty confident he’s going to propose. Except Paul has other ideas. He’s jetting off to India to find himself.
Distraught, Rachel doesn’t know what to do. Not one to easily admit defeat, she embarks on a mission to win him back.

Flying solo to India is definitely not on Rachel’s Life List, but could her trip teach her some unexpected lessons about love, life and herself? Could she realise that perhaps her Life List wasn’t exactly what she wanted, after all?

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B082K48FX8/

US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082K48FX8/

Author Bio:

Social Media Links : Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

I hope you enjoyed this review. Let me know what do you think about the book, if you have read this already or any books by the same author. Which is your favorite book set in India.

Happy Reading!

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#BlogTour #Excerpt : Five Wakes and a Wedding by Karen Ross @rararesources @ComedyKaren

3 Comments February 13, 2020 Books Teacup and Reviews

Hello Readers! I’m pleased to share excerpt from Five Wakes and a Wedding by Karen Ross, as part of blog tour organized by Rachel’s Random Resources. Check out more about this romcom in this post.

Five Wakes and a Wedding by Karen Ross
Publication Date: July 2019
Publisher: Avon / One More Chapter
Genre: Romanic Comedy Noir

Synopsis:

Undertaker Nina Sherwood is full of good advice. For example, never wear lip gloss when you’re scattering ashes.
Nina is your average 30-year-old with a steady job, a nice home – and dead bodies in her basement. As an undertaker, she often prefers the company of the dead to the living – they’re obliging, good listeners and take secrets to the grave.

Nina is on a one-woman mission to persuade her peers that passing on is just another part of life. But the residents of Primrose Hill are adamant that a funeral parlour is the last thing they need… and they will stop at nothing to close down her dearly beloved shop.

When Nina’s ‘big break’ funeral turns out to be a prank, it seems like it’s the final nail in the coffin for her new business. That is, until a (tall, dark and) mysterious investor shows up out of the blue, and she decides to take a leap of faith.

Because, after all, it’s her funeral…
The perfect antidote to all those books about weddings, this book will make you laugh until you cry, perfect for fans of Zara Stoneley’s Bridesmaids, Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Good Place.

Extract:

Here’s what’s happened so far: Nina Sherwood’s London funeral parlour, Happy Endings, is struggling, but her love life seems to be in better shape. She’s started dating a charismatic yet enigmatic lawyer called Barclay. Nina’s not sure if she can trust Barclay, but tonight she’s given him the benefit of the doubt, and he’s taken her to a go-kart racing track. Here’s what happens:

‘Do you want to meet the gang first? Or get suited up?’ Barclay enquires.

The look on my face tells its own story.

‘You didn’t think I invited you here just to sit and watch me?’ He looks perplexed. ‘That would be plain rude. Not to mention sexist. I thought you’d enjoy driving something with a bit more oomph than a hearse. But not if you don’t want to. We can go out to dinner instead. Your call.’

I look at Barclay, his Go-Kart Champion T-shirt, and his concerned expression. ‘It’s not dangerous,’ he adds. ‘Not really.’

The fact he’s making no attempt to cajole me onto the ice encourages me to reconsider. I look towards the rink and notice a couple of karts are out on the ice. I watch them negotiate their way safely round the circuit, encouraged by a few cheers from the crowd. ‘They’ve got brakes, and things?’

‘Of course. But sometimes they freeze, so better to accelerate your way out of trouble.’

Barclay’s advice isn’t entirely reassuring. I watch one of the karts slither to a standstill. The driver gets out. A girl. About fourteen years old.

‘Okay.’ I’ve made up my mind. ‘Where do I go to get changed?’

‘Really? You’re sure?’

‘Absolutely.’

Barclay leads the way towards the crowd. ‘Everyone,’ he says, ‘this is Nina.’

A couple of his friends nod hello.

Then one says, ‘The Nina?’

Barclay looks embarrassed.

I try to help him out. ‘No, I’m the other Nina,’ I say.

Everyone looks confused, Barclay included.

‘Joke.’

Barclay squeezes my hand, and introduces me to one of the rink’s staff members. ‘This is Simon. He’ll get you kitted out and walk you through the safety stuff. Then off you go! Wait,’ he adds. ‘Who did you say’s your next-of-kin?’

‘Quit while you’re ahead,’ I retort, and follow Simon towards the changing rooms.

Twenty or so minutes later, I retrace my steps. Dressed in head-to-toe thermal overalls, boots, gloves, goggles and a full-face helmet over a balaclava, I feel like The Stig. Barclay whips out his phone and takes a picture.

‘You on Instagram?’ he enquires. I try to grab the phone from him, but the heavy gloves make it impossible. He presses a few buttons. ‘Hashtag brave. Hashtag beautiful. Do you think we need hashtag blessed as well?’

I pull a face at him – not that he can see me through my helmet visor – turn and walk towards my go-kart and cautiously lower myself into the hot seat.

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Wakes-Wedding-Karen-Ross-ebook/dp/B07NXYXFSB

US – https://www.amazon.com/Five-Wakes-Wedding-Karen-Ross-ebook/dp/B07NXYXFSB

Author Bio:

As a former journalist, broadcaster and advertising copywriter, Karen Ross has followed a fairly traditional path into writing fiction. Five Wakes and a Wedding is her fourth book, and like its predecessors, the novel has two common threads: the setting is London’s Primrose Hill – Karen’s own neighbourhood – and one of the characters is a dog . . . this time he’s called Chopper and he’s almost the same size as a Shetland Pony

Karen has been self-employed for many years, and continues to work as a marketing consultant, in the absence of an offer to manage Tottenham Hotspur. By way of credentials, her other ‘job’ is trading profitably on the world’s first football stockmarket, a platform called Football Index, where you buy and sell players with real money.

Social Media Links – @ComedyKaren | Website

Let’s discuss!

What do you think about the book?
Have you read this book already?
Are you going to add it to TBR?

HAPPY READING!!

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#BlogTour #Excerpt : A Reason to Grieve by Mick Williams @rararesources

Leave a comment January 28, 2020 Books Teacup and Reviews

Hello readers! I’m happy to share a snippet from A Reason to Grieve by Mick Williams as part of blog tour, organized by Rachel’s Random Resources. Check out more about this romcom in this post.

A Reason to Grieve by Mick Williams
Publication Date: 2016
Standalone First Book in a series
Genre: romantic comedy

SYNOPSIS:

Tom and Emma drift through life, both burdened with a heavy sense of grief. Both have suffered devastating loss and have closed themselves off to the possibility of happiness. Then, at a funeral, their eyes meet and they feel something neither expected.
Supported by their quirky friends and a ‘right to the point’ pensioner, will they overcome their fears and find the solution to the pain within each other, or will they give up and go their separate ways?
In turns funny and sad, A Reason to Grieve is a romantic tale about two people fighting their feelings, about love and loss. And about funerals.

EXCERPT:

I’ve always had total respect for the generations before mine, something that might be missing these days. Some of these folks fought wars to preserve our freedom and lived tough lives with no internet or mobile phones. Lives that gave them a better perspective of life’s trials. I’ve always listening closely to any advice my elders might give, and that ethic led to one the favourite characters I’ve written, a pensioner named Doris.

Some scenes from A Reason to Grieve take part in a salon owned by Emma, one of the main characters. This scene is a moment where Vicki, Emma’s co-worker, is discussing commitment with Doris – and gets advice she could never have imagined…

“So, we had the big conversation last night. I finally asked him how we were doing.”

Emma listened as Vicki discussed her evening with her client, a seventy-nine year old mild mannered lady named Doris. Doris turned up every four weeks for a blue rinse. She was the salon’s favorite client.

“And how did it go, honey?” drooled Doris through a set of loose-fitting dentures. “What did he say?”

“He said we were fine. Everything was fine.”

Doris let out a deep sigh. “Oh dear, did he actually say the word fine?”

“Why? What’s up with that?”

“Oh Vicki,” said Doris, “I’m so sorry.”

Vicki stepped away from the chair with scissors raised as Doris collapsed into a coughing fit. “Doris, are you okay? And sorry? Sorry for what?”

“I’m okay, dear. Don’t you read Cosmopolitan? You should read Cosmopolitan. All modern women read Cosmopolitan, it’s full of useful stuff. And you’ve seen my gray hair but, trust me, just because there’s snow on the roof doesn’t mean the fire’s gone out down below. Anyway, fine is a word we use when we’re either annoyed or we want to be non-committal.”

“I’m not following,” said Vicki with a shake of the head. “And I really don’t want to picture your fires, Doris.”

Emma stepped closer as Jen, the other stylist, sandwiched the old lady in on the other side.

“Vic, the word fine doesn’t mean anything,” said Emma. “If things are going well, they’d be good. If they were going really well, they’d be great, maybe even amazing. If things were incredible, you’d get what you’re waiting for. But fine? Fine means nothing. Fine has no value or measurement. He’s still not committing.”

“How many years is it now?” asked Jen.

Vicki blinked. “Nine. We’ve been together for nine years. Adam’s my high school sweetheart, the only man I’ve ever loved, and I give him everything. So why won’t he set a date?”

“You kids,” said Doris. “You give those boys everything too soon and they get to a point where it’s all too easy for them. They get it handed to them on a plate. Bill and I had an understanding, and it kept him on his toes.”

When Doris said ‘understanding’, her eyebrows lifted and raised her tight curls an inch.

“He’s long gone now, as you know. Anyway, Bill had chores to do and, until they were done, he’d have to cut his way through armor to get to me. Even after that, I wouldn’t give it up easily. Almost fifty years of marriage, and he still passed away with a smile on his face.”

“So how did that work?” asked Vicki. “If Bill didn’t do his chores, what happened?”

“Well, he went to bed and faced the wall, didn’t he?” said Doris with a smile.

“And if he did everything right?”

“Oh, honey, I rocked his world! That’s why our marriage lasted fifty years.”

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reason-Grieve-Mick-Williams/dp/1536957216/

US – https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Grieve-Mick-Williams/dp/1536957216/

Author Bio:

Mick Williams moved from Stoke-On-Trent, England to Kentucky, USA. Then, after almost a decade, he moved back.

In between reading, writing and listening to good music he still watches proper football and, for his sins, follows his local team Port Vale. He does also still cheer for the Indianapolis Colts.

He was adopted by two cats, Crash and Thud, and resides with his patient wife in Staffordshire.

Social Media Links – www.mickwilliamsauthor.com and mickwilliamsauthor on Facebook